SPMT : Chapter 25

More than ten days of time passed in a flash.

In the blink of an eye, the grapes had ripened. Because they had planted an additional acre of grapes in the fields, this time the grapes that grew numbered over sixteen hundred bunches. The grapes matured at different times, so Xu Mu’an and Xiao Jingting picked the first five hundred bunches that ripened and took them to the city.

Because they had already made verbal contracts with Yueho Restaurant and several families in the city, this batch of grapes sold out quickly. Three hundred bunches were sold to their regular customer Yueho Restaurant at 200 copper plates per bunch, and another two hundred bunches were sold to several major families in the city at 250 copper plates per bunch.

Five hundred bunches of grapes brought in a total of one hundred and ten taels. With money in hand, Xiao Jingting magnanimously gave thirty taels of silver to Xu Mu’an. Holding the silver, Xu Mu’an felt like he was dreaming. Carrying a large bag of silver, Xu Mu’an’s steps felt light and floating.

“Should we go back now?” Xu Mu’an asked.

Xiao Jingting shook his head and said, “No, let’s make a trip to the weapon shop to buy some things for setting up traps.”

Xu Mu’an nodded and said, “Alright!” The crops in the middle-grade fields were almost mature – they needed to prepare early.

Xiao Jingting spent twelve taels buying many iron traps and some spikes.

Xu Mu’an’s gaze was attracted by a sleeve crossbow in the weapon shop. Xiao Jingting followed Xu Mu’an’s gaze toward the sleeve crossbow hanging on the wall and said, “Do you like it? If you like it, buy it.” The sleeve crossbow hanging on the wall was clearly no ordinary item. Xu Mu’an liked to move around in the forests but had no suitable weapon – it was really too unsafe.

“Sir, you truly have good eyes. This sleeve crossbow is forged from the spikes of a fifth-level Steel Needle Beast and can easily pierce through the hard armor of third-level demon beasts,” the weapon shop proprietor said.

“How much silver?” Xiao Jingting asked.

“Thirty taels.” Xu Mu’an was stunned for a moment and secretly clicked his tongue.

Xiao Jingting generously took out thirty taels and bought it.

Xu Mu’an tried to stop him, saying, “Forget it, it’s too expensive.”

Xiao Jingting shook his head and said, “It’s fine. You love running into the mountains all the time – you need a proper weapon.”

Looking at Xiao Jingting’s straightforward manner, waves of warmth rose in Xu Mu’an’s heart. Xu Mu’an didn’t understand why Xiao Jingting had become like this now, and could only secretly pray that Xiao Jingting would continue like this.

After buying the sleeve crossbow and things needed for setting up traps, most of the silver in Xiao Jingting’s hands was gone again.

“Do we need to buy anything else?” Xu Mu’an asked.

“It would be best to buy a storage bag,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Mu’an’s face paled. Storage bags were precious things – a storage bag with one cubic meter of internal space could sell for one hundred eighty taels of silver. This thing was good, but it was also too expensive.

Xiao Jingting looked at Xu Mu’an, smiled, and said, “I’m just thinking about it. There are many places at home that need money right now – it’s not good to buy that thing at the moment.”

“Should we go back now?” Xu Mu’an asked.

“Buy some jars to take back,” Xiao Jingting said.

Xu Mu’an asked in confusion, “What are the jars for?”

“You’ll know in the future,” Xiao Jingting said.

Hearing this, Xu Mu’an didn’t ask any more questions and accompanied Xiao Jingting in buying dozens of jars of various sizes. Jars weren’t expensive – buying a pile of them only cost one tael of silver.

After finishing their purchases, Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an walked to the city outskirts and met up with the people in the caravan.

Seeing Xiao Jingting and Xu Mu’an return, the several villagers in the ox cart kept glancing at the sleeve crossbow on Xu Mu’an’s arm. Although the villagers were mostly poor, many could recognize quality goods.

Feeling embarrassed under their gazes, Xu Mu’an sat down properly next to Xiao Jingting.

“Xiao family member, you’re really making big money now!” a villager said.

Xiao Jingting shook his head and said, “Not at all, just small money.”

“Head of Household Xiao, you’re too modest. Your husband’s sleeve crossbow probably costs dozens of taels of silver, right?”

“Mu’an always runs into the mountain forests but doesn’t even have a suitable weapon. I really can’t feel at ease,” Xiao Jingting said, deflecting the main point.

“Head of Household Xiao, I heard the grapes at Yueho Restaurant were sold by you. Those grapes sell for quite a lot! How did you grow those grapes? How did you grow them like that?”

“Just grew them casually,” Xiao Jingting said indifferently.

Xiao Jingting lowered his eyelids. Previously, when he sold grapes, it had already attracted quite a lot of attention. According to what he knew, quite a few people were already learning from him to improve soil and plant grapes. Before, fewer people paid attention when he sold grapes, but once this batch of grapes was sold, the whole village would probably know about it.

If he continued selling grapes like this, it would probably make quite a few people envious. When that time came… his foundation was really too shallow! Everything he did was constrained and cautious.

As if sensing Xiao Jingting’s worry, Xu Mu’an reached out and grasped Xiao Jingting’s hand. Xiao Jingting gripped Xu Mu’an’s hand in return.